On June 4, 2025, Bengaluru witnessed history as Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB) claimed their first IPL title after an 18-year wait. The win ignited wild celebrations outside of the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium, with thousands of fans and supporters coming to join in the celebrations. But the celebrations soon took a dark turn when there was a stampede near Gate 7, where 11 people were killed and dozens injured, including some teenagers.

Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar was very saddened by the event, and he condoled the bereaved families. In his Mid-Day column, Gavaskar pondered how the long wait for RCB's first championship made the emotions of fans so much more heightened. He noted how if RCB had won in previous seasons, the celebrations would not have been so rabid. "If RCB had won the trophy in the initial years, there would not have been this flood of emotion," he said, pointing towards the special emotional frenzy in this victory.

"What a tragedy," Gavaskar lamented. “All those people wanted was a glimpse of the players… maybe even a quick photo with them. Haven’t we all been fans of someone before… and wanted to see them and have a brief hello?” He was admitting that fans had assembled innocently, anticipating these moments with their heroes, but regretting how a celebration that was full of joy was full of chaos and loss. He stressed that while passion is natural, it needs to be balanced with caution to avoid such heartbreaking outcomes.

The Need for Responsible Celebrations and Better Crowd Management

Gavaskar called on organizers, officials, and supporters to reflect on this disaster and make sure that future celebrations for sport would consider safe environments first. He stressed the responsibility to implement proper crowd control measures, discipline, and planning, and to avoid the stampede risk involved in large public gatherings. Gavaskar remarked, enthusiasm can be a peril unless it is managed.

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This tragic episode serves as a powerful reminder that sporting triumphs, though joyous, must never come at the cost of human lives. As the cricketing community mourns the loss, Gavaskar’s reflections urge a shift towards safer, more structured celebrations that honor both the spirit of the game and the well-being of its fans.